Pitch changing device for paddle wheels



Oct. 14, 1958 w. H. BARNETT 'PITCH CHANGING DEVICE FOR PADDLE WHEELS Filed Nov. so',v 1955 2 sheets-sheen 1 Lilla-fl .11.; r.`

Oct. M, 1958 w. H. BARNETT 2,856,011

PITCH CHANGING DEVICE FOR PADDLE WHEELS Filed Npv. 30, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wil/iam H. Barnett INVENToR.

Ammtyx PITCH CHANGING DEVICE FOR PADDLE WHEELS This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in both construction, and more specifically to an improved paddle wheel construction for paddle wheel type boats and the like.

In order that a paddle wheel may operate most efficiently, it is necessary that the paddle wheel be feathered as it comes up out of the water. The feathering of a paddle is the turning of the paddle at an angle to its direction of movement so that the resistance thereof is greatly decreased. By so doing this, the upward movement of the paddle out of the water, as well as its initial movement down into the water requires less energy and the resulting of less loss of power.

It is therefore the primary object ofthis invention to provide a feathering or pitch changing device for paddle wheels which will automatically feather a paddle or paddles of the paddle wheel at the desired time so that the paddle will operate most efiiciently.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved paddle Wheel construction which incorporates a rotatable housing having extending therefrom a paddle shaft which is rotatably journaled therein, there being carried by opposite ends of the shaft paddles and there being provided suitable mechanism for rotating the paddle shaft in response to rotation of the housing whereby the paddles are automatically feathered as the paddles are rotated in a driving action.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved feathering or pitch changing device for paddle wheels which is of an extremely simple construction and which operates on a very simple principle so that the manufacture of the pitch changing device is economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved paddle wheel construction which includes a fixed shaft having journaled thereon a vrotatable drive shaft, there being carried by the rotatable drive shaft a hollow housing which carries for relative rotation a power shaft which has mounted on the ends thereof externally of the housing paddles, the fixed shaft being connected to the power shaft by means of a suitable link whereby as the housing and paddles are rotated with respect to the fixed shaft, the paddle shaft is also rotated or oscillated so as to automatically feather the paddles carried thereby.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a paddle boat incorporating the present invention, only a portion of the boat structure being illustrated;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the paddle boat of Figure l with also only a portion of the boat structure being illustrated;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical 1 and 3.

sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the specific details of the mounting of one of the paddle wheels and the means for changing the pitch or feather- Ving the paddles thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4 4 of Figure 3 and shows further the details of the means for effecting the feathering of the paddles of the paddle wheel; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary .vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 3 and shows further the details of the means for changing the pitch of the paddles including the specific connection between the link and a plate carried by the fixed shaft.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figures l and 2 a paddle boat which is referred to in general by the reference numeral lltl. The paddle boat l@ includes a hull structure l2 which may be of any desired type. Extending upwardly from the hull structure l2 is a rear support 14, an intermediate support 16 and a front support i8. Overlying the supports 14, 16 and 18 is a longitudinally extending member 2f).

Secured to the member 20 in overlying relation with respect to the intermediate support 16 is a rear frame member 22 which has extending upwardly therefrom an adjustable seat post 24 carrying a seat 26. Extending upwardly from the member 20 in alignment with the support 18 is a front frame member 28 which is provided at the upper end thereof with a suitable fitting 3@ to which there is connected a longitudinal frame member 32, the rear end of the frame member 32 being connected to the upper portion of the rear frame 22.

Carried by the fitting 30 is a set of handle bars 34. The handle bars, if desired, may be mounted for pivotal movement and may be connected to a rudder (not shown) of the paddle boat itl in any desired manner.

Carried by the rear support 14 is a transversely extending fixed shaft 36, -the shaft 36 extending to opposite sides of the rear support 14, as is best illustrated in Figures Rotatably journaled on the fixed shaft 36 on opposite sides of the rear support 14 are rotatable shafts 38 which function as drive shafts. The drive shafts 3S may be mounted directly upon the fixed shaft 36, as is best illustrated in Figure 3, or there may be provided suitable bearings as desired. i

ln order that the drive shafts 38 may be driven, there is carried by the member Ztl adjacent the seat 26 a crank assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 4l). The crank assembly 40 includes a transverse shaft 42 which is suitably journaled for rotation. Carried by opposite ends of the transverse shaft 42 are crank arms d4 carrying paddles 46. Mounted on the transverse shaft 42 on opposite sides of the member 20 are drive sprockets 48. The drive sprockets 4S are aligned with driven sprockets 5ft carried by the drive shafts 38. Entrained over the sprockets 48 and 50 are drive chains 52. Thus when the crank assembly 40 is rotated by one sitting on the seat 26 and pedalling the same, the drive shafts 38 will be rotated.

Carried by the outer end of each drive shaft 38 is a paddle assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 54. Inasmuch as the two paddle assemblies 54 will be indentical, except for being left and right assemblies, only one paddle assembly 54 will be described in detail hereinafter.

Each paddle assembly 54 includes a housing which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56. The housing 56 includes a circular mounting plate 58 which Patented Oct. 14, 1958 is secured to its respective shaft 38 by means of a flange 60 on the drive shaft end and suitable circumferentially spaced fasteners 62 connecting the flange 60 to the circular plate 58. The circular mounting plate 58 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 64. The flange 64 is telescoped over a circular body member 66 of the housing 56 and is secured thereto by circumferentially spaced fasteners 68 which may be of the removable type. A suitable seal 70 is placed between the annular ange 64 and the body member 66. The opposite end of the housingy 56 from the mounting plate 58 is closed by an end wall 72.

Extending diametrically through the housing 56 is a paddle shaft 74. As is best illustrated in Figure 4, the ends of the paddle shaft 74 are provided with suitable hubs 76 having reduced portions 78 which are suitably journaled within the body member 66. Carried by the hubs 76 are paddles 80 and 82, the paddle 30 being disposed at right angles to the paddle 82, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring once again to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that the fixed shaft 36 is provided with a reduced end portion 84 which extends through a matching opening 86 in the mounting plate 58. The fixed shaft 36 also includes an extreme reduced end portion 88 which is disposed entirely within the housing S6. Mounted on the end portion 88 in xed relation is a plate 90. The plate 90 is secured in place by means of a suitable fastener 92, which is connected to the end portion 88, and a washer 94. A suitable thrust washer 96 is disposed between the plate 90 and the mounting plate 58.

As is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the plate 90 includes an offset portion 98. The offset portion 98 is provided with an enlarged aperture 100 in which there is received one end of a link which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 102.

The link 102 includes a bifurcated fitting 104 having spaced leg portions 106 in an internally threaded barrel S. Threadedly engaged in the barrel 10S is a pin 110. It is the free end of the pin 110 which is disposed in the opening 100 for swivel movement.

As is clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the paddle shaft 74 has a fiat central portion 112. The legs 106 are disposed on opposite sides of this flat central portion 112 and are pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 114.

As the housing 56 rotates in response to rotation of the drive shaft 38 to which it is connected, the paddle shaft 74 will rotate with the housing S6. Of course, the paddles 80 and 82 rotate with the housing 56 and the paddle shaft 74 about the axis of the drive shaft 38. Inasmuch as the link 102 has one end thereof pivotally connected to the center of the paddle shaft 74 in alignment with the axis of the drive shaft 38 and since the other end of the link 102 is restrained except for sliding movement in the opening 100, the link 102 cannot rotate with the paddle shaft 74, but pivots with respect to the paddle shaft 71- and effects rotation of the paddle shaft 74 relative to the housing 56. This rotation is of an oscillatory nature and as a result the paddles 8f) and 82 are oscillated as the paddles rotate. By properly positioning the hubs 76 on the paddle shaft 74 with respect to the flat central portion 112, it will be seen that the timing of the changing of pitch or fcathering of the paddles and 82 may be adjusted to that desired.

Inasmuch as the paddles 80 and 82 are disposed normal to each other, as one paddle is feathered for removal from the water, the other paddle is increasing in pitch so that it will strike the water at the desired angle. Thus the paddles 80 and 82 are automatically sequentially feathered during a paddling operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A paddle wheel construction comprising a fixed shaft, a rotatable shaft journaled on said fixed shaft, a hollow housing carried by said rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, a paddle shaft extending through said housing and journaled in said housing for rotation relative thereto, a paddle carried by said paddle shaft, said fixed shaft extending into said housing, means disposed entirely within said housing and connecting said paddle shaft to said fixed shaft for rotating said paddle shaft relative to said housing upon rotation of said housing whereby said paddle is automatically feathered, said means including a plate mounted on said fixed shaft and mounted within said housing, a link extending between said paddle shaft and said plate and terminally connectedthereto, said plate having an offset end portion,

said link having an end swivelly journaled in said endV portion, the other end of said link being in the form of a bifurcated fitting pivotally connected to said paddle shaft.

2. A paddle Wheel construction comprising a fixed shaft, a rotatable shaft journaled on said fixed shaft, a hollow housing carried by said rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, a paddle shaft extending through said housing and journaled in said housing for rotation relative thereto, a paddle carried 4by said paddle shaft, said fixed shaft extending into said housing, means disposed entirely within said housing and connecting said paddle shaft to said fixed shaft for rotating said paddle shaft relative to said housing upon rotation of said housing whereby said paddle is automatically feathered, said means including a plate mounted on said fixed shaft and mounted within said housing, a link extending between said paddle shaft and said plate and terminally connected to said plate, one end of said link being in the form of a bifurcated fitting pivotally connected to said paddle shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,602 Searle Oct. 24, 1905 1,284,282 Fitzpatrick Nov. l2, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 371,727 France Mar. 14, 1907 914,224 Germany June 28, 1954 

